NHTSA Complaint #10359356 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

2001 FORD WINDSTAR WITH A CRACKED REAR AXLE. NO LETTER HAS BEEN RECEIVED TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER. OUR VAN MADE CREAKING NOISES AND WE HAD HEARD THROUGH THE MEDIA THAT A RECALL WAS BEGINNING. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT. WILL NOT GIVE US A DEFINITE ANSWER AS TO WHEN WE CAN EXPECT A RESOLUTION. WE WERE GIVEN A 30 DAY RENTAL AND 14 DAYS HAVE PASSED AND NO ANSWERS. WE ARE GIVEN $30 A DAY FOR A RENTAL CAR BY FORD BUT MUST PAY TAXES TOTALING $3.30 A DAY. THE VOUCHER IS $38 DAILY WITH $8 USED FOR INSURANCE IF NEEDED. WE PAY THROUGH OUR PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR SUCH COVERAGE. WHY CANNOT FORD USE THE ADDITIONAL $8 A DAY TO COVER OUR TAXES? THE EXPLANATION FOR THE RECALL WAS TO BE NO EXPENSE TO THE OWNER FOR CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. WE DID NOT CREATE THIS PROBLEM AND BOUGHT OUR VAN IN GOOD FAITH OF THE FORD MOTOR CO. REPUTATION. THIS CERTAINLY DOESN'T MAKE FOR GOOD CUSTOMER RELATIONS. NO DEFINITE DEADLINE FOR REPAIRS AND GIVING UP THE VAN TO USE A 4 DOOR CAR HAS BEEN VERY INCONVENIENT. I AM REQUESTING A DEADLINE BE ESTABLISHED AND FOR FORD TO USE THE ADDITIONAL $8 WE ARE NOT USING BUT WAS ALLOCATED FOR COVERAGE OF THIS PROBLEM TO BE COVERED FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO ALREADY HAVE INSURANCE FOR RENTAL CARS UNDER THEIR PRIVATE INSURANCE CARRIER. *TR